Highs and lows of Steelers’ 8-8 season

Running back Le’Veon Bell (26) runs towards Cincinnati Bengals strong safety George Iloka (43) in the third quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2013, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

Worst Game: The Steelers have been playing football for 81 years and had never sustained the kind of whipping they endured in a 55-31 loss to New England on Nov. 3 that left them at 2-6. The Patriots set records for points and yards (610) by a Pittsburgh opponent, including 31 points over the final 18 minutes.

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) tries to break free from the grasp of Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback William Gay (22) in the first quarter Sunday, Nov. 3, 2013, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Best Play: Troy Polamalu channeling 2009 in Green Bay on Dec. 22, stripping Packers quarterback Matt Flynn of the ball. Brett Keisel recovered at the Green Bay 19 to set up the winning touchdown in a 38-31 victory.

Worst Play: A two-way tie. Mike Tomlin’s two-step onto the field in a loss to Baltimore on Thanksgiving night earned him a $100,000 fine and may cost the team a draft pick. A week later, Brown stepped out of bounds at the Miami 12 on the final play, negating what would have been a game-tying score.

Antonio Brown (84) appears to step out of bounds as he gets past Miami Dolphins strong safety Chris Clemons (30) on the final play of the of thel game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 8. Brown made it into the end zone on the play, but it was ruled he stepped out of bounds. Miami won 34-28. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

Biggest Surprise: Kelvin Beachum’s emergence as the left tackle of the future. The former seventh-round pick provided solid if not spectacular play after taking over for ineffective Mike Adams.